Paper feeding mechanism

ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment, a paper feeding mechanism includes a tray, a first roller, a second roller, a third roller, and a guide member. The tray supports a sheet. The first roller picks up the sheet from the tray. The second roller conveys the sheet picked up by the first roller. The third roller forms a nip that sandwiches the sheet between the second roller and the third roller. Relative positions of the third roller and the first and second rollers are set such that a convey reference surface of the sheet that is in contact with the first roller and the second roller and a flat surface of the nip are disposed on substantially the same flat surface. The guide member is between the nip and the first roller and intersects the convey reference surface.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a paper feedingmechanism, a method of feeding paper without a squeal sound, and a quietpaper feeder.

BACKGROUND

An image forming apparatus includes a paper feeding mechanism thatsupplies sheets. The paper feeding mechanism includes a pickup roller, apaper feeding roller, and a separation roller. There is a case where aplurality of sheets overlap each other and are picked up by the pickuproller. The paper feeding roller and the separation roller performseparation and conveyance of overlapping sheets. In the separation andconveyance, a lower layer sheet is separated from an upper layer sheet,and only the upper layer sheet is conveyed. If the separation andconveyance are performed, there is a case where the overlapping sheetsvibrate, and a paper squeal sound is generated. A paper feedingmechanism that can prevent the paper squeal sound is required.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration view of an image forming apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a paper feeding mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an area around a third roller;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of an operation of the paper feedingmechanism; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main portion of the paper feedingmechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, according to one embodiment, a paper feeding mechanismincludes a tray, a first roller, a second roller, a third roller, and aguide member. The tray supports a sheet. The first roller picks up thesheet from the tray. The second roller conveys the sheet picked up bythe first roller. The third roller forms a nip that sandwiches the sheetbetween the second roller and the third roller. Relative positions ofthe third roller and the first and second rollers are set such that aconvey reference surface of the sheet that is in contact with the firstroller and the second roller and a flat surface of the nip are disposedon substantially the same flat surface. The guide member is between thenip and the first roller and intersects the convey reference surface.According to another embodiment, a method of feeding paper without asqueal sound involves supporting a sheet with a tray; picking up thesheet from the tray with a first roller; conveying the sheet picked upby the first roller with a second roller; forming a nip that sandwichesthe sheet between the second roller and a third roller, the third rollerhaving a relative position to the first roller and the second rollersuch that a convey reference surface of the sheet that is in contactwith the first roller and the second roller and a flat surface of thenip are disposed on substantially the same flat surface; and guiding thesheet using a guide member positioned between the nip and the firstroller and intersecting the convey reference surface.

Hereinafter, the paper feeding mechanism of the embodiment will bedescribed with reference to the drawings.

The following describes an example in which the paper feeding mechanismof the embodiment is adopted in a manual feeding unit of an imageforming apparatus. The paper feeding mechanism of the embodiment may beadopted in a sheet supply section of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration view of an image forming apparatus1. The image forming apparatus 1 performs a process of forming an imageon a sheet S.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes a housing 15, a scanner section2, an image forming unit 3, a sheet supply section 4, a conveyingsection 5, a manual feeding unit 6, a paper discharge tray 7, areversing unit 8, a control panel 9, and a control section 12.

The housing 15 forms an outer shape of the image forming apparatus 1.

The scanner section 2 reads image information of a copy target based onbrightness and darkness of light and generates an image signal. Thescanner section 2 outputs the generated image signal to the imageforming unit 3.

The image forming unit 3 forms an output image with a recording materialsuch as toner based on an image signal received from the scanner section2 or an image signal received from the outside. Hereinafter, the outputimage is referred to as a toner image. The image forming unit 3transfers the toner image onto the front surface of the sheet S. Theimage forming unit 3 heats and pressurizes the toner image on the frontsurface of the sheet S to fix the toner image onto the sheet S.

The sheet supply section 4 supplies the sheets S one by one to theconveying section 5 at the timing when the image forming unit 3 forms atoner image. The sheet supply section 4 has a supply tray 20, a firstsupply roller 21, a second supply roller 22, and a third supply roller23.

The supply tray 20 stores the sheet S of a predetermined size and type.

The first supply roller 21 picks up the sheets S one by one from thesupply tray 20. The second supply roller transports the sheet S pickedup by the first supply roller 21 to the conveying section 5 toward thedownstream side where the sheet S is conveyed. The third supply roller23 is opposite to the second supply roller 22. The third supply roller23 sandwiches the sheet S between the second supply roller 22 and thethird supply roller 23.

The conveying section 5 conveys the sheet S supplied from the sheetsupply section 4 to the image forming unit 3. The conveying section 5includes a conveying roller 26 and a registration roller 27.

The conveying roller 26 conveys the sheet S supplied from the supplyrollers 22 and 23 to the registration roller 27. The conveying roller 26makes the distal end of the sheet S on the downstream side abut againsta nip NA of the registration roller 27.

The registration roller 27 bends the sheet S at the nip NA to adjust theposition of the distal end of the sheet S on the downstream side. Theregistration roller 27 conveys the sheet S according to the timing whenthe image forming unit 3 transfers the toner image to the sheet S.

The image forming unit 3 will be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the image forming unit 3 includes a pluralityof image forming sections 30, a laser scanning unit 31, an intermediatetransfer belt 32, a transfer section 33, and a fixing device 34.

The image forming section 30 includes a photoreceptor drum 35. The imageforming section 30 forms a toner image corresponding to the image signalfrom the scanner section 2 or the outside, on the photoreceptor drum 35.The plurality of image forming sections 30 form the toner images byyellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners, respectively.

A charging device, a developing device, and the like are around thephotoreceptor drum 35. The charging device charges the front surface ofthe photoreceptor drum 35. A developing device contains a developercontaining yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners. The developingdevice develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor drum35. A toner image made by toner of each color is formed on thephotoreceptor drum 35.

The laser scanning unit 31 scans the charged photoreceptor drum 35 witha laser beam L to expose the photoreceptor drum 35. The laser scanningunit 31 exposes the photoreceptor drum 35 of the image forming sections30 of each color with different laser beams LY, LM, LC, and LK. Thelaser scanning unit 31 forms an electrostatic latent image on thephotoreceptor drum 35.

The toner image on the front surface of the photoreceptor drum 35 isprimarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 32.

The transfer section 33 transfers the toner image primarily transferredonto the intermediate transfer belt 32, onto the front surface of thesheet S at a secondary transfer position.

The fixing device 34 heats and pressurizes the toner image transferredto the sheet S to fix the toner image onto the sheet S.

The reversing unit 8 reverses the sheet S to form an image on the backsurface of the sheet S. The reversing unit 8 reverses the sheet Sdischarged from the fixing device 34 upside down by switchback. Thereversing unit 8 conveys the reversed sheet S toward the registrationroller 27.

The sheet S on which the image is formed and which is discharged isplaced on the paper discharge tray 7.

The control panel 9 is a part of an input section through which anoperator inputs information for operating the image forming apparatus 1.The control panel 9 includes a touch panel and various hard keys.

The control section 12 controls each member of the image formingapparatus 1.

The manual feeding unit 6 and the paper feeding mechanism 40 will bedescribed.

The manual feeding unit 6 supplies the sheets S manually fed to the trayto the conveying section 5 one by one. For example, the manual feedingunit 6 is on the side of the image forming apparatus 1. The paperfeeding mechanism 40 of the embodiment is adopted in the manual feedingunit 6.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the paper feeding mechanism and is anenlarged view of part II of FIG. 1 . The paper feeding mechanism 40includes a tray 47, a first roller 41, a second roller 42, a thirdroller 43, a guide member 60, and a support member 50.

The X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction of the rectangularcoordinate system are defined as follows. The X direction is a directionin which a first rotary shaft A of the first roller 41 and a secondrotary shaft B of the second roller 42 are aligned side by side. The +Xdirection is a direction from the first rotary shaft A to the secondrotary shaft B. There is a case where the +X direction is referred to asa downstream side, and the −X direction is referred to as an upstreamside. The Y direction is a direction parallel to the second rotary shaftB. For example, the X direction and the Y direction are substantiallyhorizontal directions. The Z direction is a direction perpendicular tothe X direction and the Y direction. The Z direction is a direction inwhich the second rotary shaft B of the second roller 42 and a thirdrotary shaft C of a third roller 43 are aligned side by side. The +Zdirection is a direction from the third rotary shaft C to the secondrotary shaft B. For example, the Z direction is a substantially verticaldirection and the +Z direction is an upward direction.

The upper surface of the tray 47 is parallel to the Y direction. Theupper surface of the tray 47 is inclined in the −Z direction over the +Xdirection. A manually fed sheet S is placed on the upper surface of thetray 47. The tray 47 supports the sheet S. If the image formingapparatus 1 starts printing, the end portion of the tray 47 in the +Xdirection rises. The sheet S supported by the tray 47 comes into contactwith the first roller 41.

The first roller 41 is a pickup roller. The first rotary shaft A of thefirst roller 41 is parallel to the Y direction. The outer circumferenceof the first roller 41 is covered with an elastic body. The first roller41 is rotated and driven by the driving source. The first roller 41rotates in a state of being in contact with the sheet S supported by thetray 47. The first roller 41 picks up the sheet S from the tray 47 onthe downstream direction (+X direction).

The second roller 42 is a paper feeding roller. The second rotary shaftB of the second roller 42 is parallel to the Y direction. The outercircumference of the second roller 42 is covered with an elastic body.The second roller 42 is rotated and driven by the driving source. Thesecond roller 42 forms a nip N that sandwiches the sheet S between thesecond roller 42 and the third roller 43. The sheet S picked up by thefirst roller 41 enters the nip N. The sheet S is conveyed to thedownstream side (+X direction) by the rotation of the second roller 42in a state of sandwiching the sheet S in the nip N.

The third roller 43 is a separation roller. The third rotary shaft C ofthe third roller 43 is parallel to the Y direction. The outercircumference of the third roller 43 is covered with an elastic body.The third roller 43 is pressed toward the second roller 42 by a spring44. The third roller 43 forms the nip N that sandwiches the sheet Sbetween the second roller 42 and the third roller 43. The third roller43 is rotated in a driven manner by the rotation of the second roller 42in a state where the nip N is formed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an area around the third roller. Thethird roller 43 is supported by the support member via a torque limiter45. If a torque exceeding a predetermined value acts on the third roller43, the torque limiter 45 allows the third roller 43 to rotate. If atorque that is equal to or lower than a predetermined value acts on thethird roller 43, the torque limiter 45 prohibits the rotation of thethird roller 43.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of an operation of the paper feedingmechanism. The coefficient of friction between the second and thirdrollers 42 and 43 and the sheet S is large. If one sheet S enters thenip N, the torque acting on the third roller 43 due to the rotation ofthe second roller 42 is greater than a predetermined value. The thirdroller 43 is allowed to rotate, and the sheet S is conveyed to thedownstream side.

There is a case where a plurality of sheets SU and SD are picked up fromthe tray 47 in an overlapping state. The second roller 42 and the thirdroller 43 perform separation and conveyance of the overlapping sheets SUand SD. In the overlapping sheets SU and SD, the coefficient of frictionbetween the upper layer sheet SU and the lower layer sheet SD is small.If a plurality of sheets S enter the nip N, the torque acting on thethird roller 43 due to the rotation of the second roller 42 is smallerthan a predetermined value. The rotation of the third roller 43 isprohibited, and the conveyance of the lower layer sheet SD is preventedby the third roller 43. Only the upper layer sheet SU is conveyed to thedownstream side by the rotation of the second roller 42. The thirdroller 43 separates the lower layer sheet SD from the upper layer sheetSU.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the main portion of the paper feedingmechanism, and an enlarged view of part V of FIG. 2 . A nip surface NS,which is a flat surface of the nip N, is formed between the secondroller 42 and the third roller 43. The flat surface which comes intocontact with the second roller 42 and the first roller 41 from below,where the nip surface NS is formed, is a convey reference surface T ofthe sheet S. The sheet S is conveyed along the convey reference surfaceT. The relative positions of the first and second rollers 41 and 42 andthe third roller 43 are set such that the convey reference surface T andthe nip surface NS are disposed on substantially the same flat surface.A flat surface AB having the first rotary shaft A and the second rotaryshaft B of the first roller 41 intersects a flat surface BC having thesecond rotary shaft B and the third rotary shaft C at a substantiallyright angle. The diameter of the first roller 41 and the diameter of thesecond roller 42 are substantially equivalent.

The guide member 60 is formed in a thin plate shape from a resinmaterial such as polyethylene terephthalate or a metal material such asstainless steel. The guide member 60 is an elastic body and can be bent.The guide member 60 is parallel to the Y direction. The guide member 60is inclined in the +Z direction over the +X direction. The guide member60 intersects the convey reference surface T. A first end portion 61 inthe −X direction of the guide member 60 is in the −Z direction of theconvey reference surface T. The first end portion 61 is fixed to thesupport member 50. The relative positions of the first end portion 61and the second rotary shaft B of the second roller 42 are fixed. Asecond end portion 62 in the +X direction of the guide member 60 is inthe +Z direction of the convey reference surface T. The second endportion 62 is near the second roller 42 and the nip N. The relativepositions of the second end portion 62 and the second rotary shaft B arenot fixed.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 , there is case where the plurality of sheetsSU and SD are picked up from the tray 47 in an overlapping state. Thesecond roller 42 and the third roller 43 perform separation andconveyance of the overlapping sheets SU and SD. The guide member 60intersects the convey reference surface T. The second end portion 62 ofthe guide member 60 abuts against the lower layer sheet SD and bends.The elasticity restoring force of the guide member 60 presses the lowerlayer sheet SD toward the upper layer sheet SU. The vibration of theoverlapping sheets SU and SD is prevented, and the generation of papersqueal sound during the separation and conveyance is prevented.

The support member 50 rotatably supports the third roller 43. Asillustrated in FIG. 5 , the support member 50 has a first surface 51 anda second surface 55.

The first surface 51 is a guide surface that guides the movement of thesheet S to the nip N. The first surface 51 is parallel to the Ydirection. The first surface 51 is inclined in the +Z direction over the+X direction. The first surface 51 has an opening 53. A part of thethird roller 43 protrudes in the +Z direction of the first surface 51from the opening 53. The guide member 60 covers a part of the outercircumference of the protruding third roller 43. As illustrated in FIG.3 , the width of the guide member 60 in the Y direction is greater thanthe width of the third roller 43 in the Y direction.

The second end portion 62 of the guide member 60 has a straight lineshape which is substantially parallel to the Y direction. The exposureof the third roller 43 in the +Z direction is prevented by the guidemember 60. As illustrated in FIG. 4 , the sheet S approaches the nip Nalong the guide member 60 and then comes into contact with the thirdroller 43. Turning-up and deformation of the distal end of the sheet Scaused by plunging into the third roller 43 are prevented.

The first surface 51 has a recess portion 52 that is recessed in the −Zdirection. As illustrated in FIG. 5 , the recess portion 52 is in the −Xdirection of the opening 53. The first end portion 61 of the guidemember 60 is fixed to the bottom surface of the recess portion 52. Thefirst end portion 61 is on the opposite side of the convey referencesurface T across the first surface 51. The first end portion 61 isfarther from the convey reference surface T than the first surface 51.If the sheet S picked up from the tray 47 abuts against the firstsurface 51, the sheet S does not get caught on the first end portion 61,and thus, the deformation of the sheet S is prevented.

The flat surface having the sheet S which is supported by the tray 47and is in contact with the first roller 41 is a pick-up surface P. Thesheet S is picked up from the tray 47 along the pick-up surface P by thefirst roller 41. The pick-up surface P is parallel to the Y direction.The pick-up surface P is inclined in the −Z direction over the +Xdirection. The first surface 51 intersects the pick-up surface P. Apartof the downstream side (+X direction) of the first surface 51 is on theside of the nip N of the pick-up surface P. The second end portion 62 ofthe guide member 60 is also on the side of the nip N of the pick-upsurface P.

The sheet S picked up along the pick-up surface P abuts against theguide member 60 and the first surface 51, and moves to the nip N alongthe guide member 60 and the first surface 51. The sheet S is easilyguided into the nip N by the first surface 51 and guide member 60. Ifthe overlapping sheets SU and SD move along the guide member 60 and theinclined surface of the first surface 51, air is introduced between theoverlapping sheets SU and SD. Before the overlapping sheets SU and SDreach the third roller 43, the overlapped sheets SU and SD are handled.The performance of separating and conveying the overlapping sheets SUand SD is improved.

The second end portion 62 of the guide member 60 is on the opposite sideof the pick-up surface P across the first surface 51. The second endportion 62 is farther from the pick-up surface P than the first surface51. The contact of the sheet S with the third roller 43 is controlled bythe guide member 60. Turning-up and deformation of the distal end of thesheet S caused by plunging into the third roller 43 are prevented.

The second surface 55 is a support surface that supports the distal endof the sheet S accommodated in the tray 47. The second surface 55 isparallel to the Y direction and the normal direction of the pick-upsurface P. There is a space between the second surface 55 and the distalend of the tray 47 in the +X direction. A rib 56 protrudes from thesecond surface 55 toward the tray 47. The height of the rib 56 issubstantially constant. The rib 56 is parallel to the normal directionof the pick-up surface P. As illustrated in FIG. 3 , a plurality of ribs56 are disposed at intervals in the Y direction. The distal end of thesheet S accommodated in the tray 47 in the +X direction abuts againstthe ribs 56 due to gravity. If the tray 47 rises toward the first roller41, the distal end of the sheet S slides against the ribs 56 and doesnot slide against the second surface 55. The load caused by the slidingof the sheet S is reduced, and the tray 47 easily rises.

The sheet S picked up along the pick-up surface P abuts against thefirst surface 51. There are no ribs on the first surface 51. Thedeformation of the sheet S due to collision with the ribs is suppressed.

As described above, the paper feeding mechanism 40 of the embodimentincludes the tray 47, the first roller 41, the second roller 42, thethird roller 43, and the guide member 60. The tray 47 supports the sheetS. The first roller 41 picks up the sheet S from the tray 47. The secondroller 42 conveys the sheet S picked up by the first roller 41. Thethird roller 43 forms the nip N that sandwiches the sheet S between thesecond roller 42 and the third roller 43. The relative positions of thethird roller 43 and the first and second rollers 41 and 42 are set suchthat the convey reference surface T of the sheet S that is in contactwith the first roller 41 and the second roller 42 and the nip surface NSare disposed on substantially the same flat surface. The guide member 60is between the nip N and the first roller 41, and intersects the conveyreference surface T.

There is a case where a plurality of sheets SU and SD are picked up fromthe tray 47 in an overlapping state. The second roller 42 and the thirdroller 43 perform separation and conveyance of the overlapping sheets SUand SD. Since the guide member 60 intersects the convey referencesurface T, the guide member 60 abuts against the overlapping sheets SUand SD. The vibration of the overlapping sheets SU and SD is prevented,and the generation of paper squeal sound during the separation andconveyance is prevented.

The convey reference surface T and the nip surface NS are onsubstantially the same flat surface. The sheet S conveyed along theconvey reference surface T is not curved on the nip surface NS. A partof the pressing force of the third roller 43 against the second roller42 is not offset by the elasticity restoring force of the sheet S. Thesecond roller 42 and the third roller 43 implement high separation andconveyance performance. Since the sufficient pressing force acts on theoverlapping sheets SU and SD, the generation of paper squeal soundduring the separation and conveyance is prevented.

The relative positions of the first end portion 61 of the guide member60 and the second rotary shaft B are fixed, and the relative positionsof the second end portion 62 and the second rotary shaft B are notfixed. The guide member 60 is a plate-shaped elastic body.

The second end portion 62 of the guide member 60 abuts against the lowerlayer sheet SD and bends. The elasticity restoring force of the guidemember 60 presses the lower layer sheet SD toward the upper layer sheetSU. The vibration of the overlapping sheets SU and SD is prevented, andthe generation of paper squeal sound during the separation andconveyance is prevented.

Even if the guide member 60 abuts against the sheet S such as a rigidcardboard, the guide member 60 bends, and accordingly, conveyanceresistance of the sheet S is unlikely to be achieved. Deterioration ofconveyance performance, such as conveyance delay of the sheet S, isprevented.

The paper feeding mechanism of the embodiment is adopted in the imageforming apparatus, which is an example of an image processing apparatus.The paper feeding mechanism of the embodiment is adopted in a decoloringdevice, which is another example of an image processing apparatus. Thedecoloring device decolors (erases) the image formed on the sheet by thedecoloring toner.

According to at least one embodiment described above, by providing theguide member 60 intersecting the convey reference surface T, thegeneration of paper squeal sound can be prevented.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intendedto cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the inventions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A paper feeding mechanism, comprising: a traythat supports a sheet; a first roller that picks up the sheet from thetray; a second roller that conveys the sheet picked up by the firstroller; a third roller which forms a nip that sandwiches the sheetbetween the second roller and the third roller, the third roller havinga relative position to the first roller and the second roller set suchthat a convey reference surface of the sheet that is in contact with thefirst roller and the second roller and a flat surface of the nip aredisposed on substantially the same flat surface; and a guide memberbetween the nip and the first roller and intersects the convey referencesurface.
 2. The paper feeding mechanism according to claim 1, whereinrelative positions of a first end portion of the guide member on theupstream side of the sheet in a conveying direction and a rotary shaftof the second roller are fixed, and relative positions of a second endportion of the guide member on the downstream side of the sheet in theconveying direction and the rotary shaft of the second roller are notfixed.
 3. The paper feeding mechanism according to claim 2, wherein theguide member comprises an elastic body.
 4. The paper feeding mechanismaccording to claim 2, wherein the guide member has a plate shape.
 5. Thepaper feeding mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the second endportion of the guide member has a straight line shape substantiallyparallel to the rotary shaft of the second roller.
 6. The paper feedingmechanism according to claim 2, further comprising: a support memberhaving a first surface that guides movement of the sheet into the nip,and the first end portion of the guide member is on an opposite side ofthe convey reference surface sandwiching the first surface.
 7. The paperfeeding mechanism according to claim 6, wherein if the flat surfacehaving the sheet which is supported by the tray and in contact with thefirst roller is a pick-up surface, the first surface intersects thepick-up surface, and the second end portion of the guide member is on asame side of the nip of the pick-up surface.
 8. The paper feedingmechanism according to claim 7, wherein the second end portion of theguide member is on an opposite side of the pick-up surface sandwichingthe first surface.
 9. The paper feeding mechanism according to claim 6,wherein the support member comprises a rib that protrudes toward thetray.
 10. The paper feeding mechanism according to claim 6, with theproviso that the support member does not have a rib on the firstsurface.
 11. An image forming apparatus comprising the paper feedingmechanism according to claim
 1. 12. A method of feeding paper without asqueal sound, comprising: supporting a sheet with a tray; picking up thesheet from the tray with a first roller; conveying the sheet picked upby the first roller with a second roller; forming a nip that sandwichesthe sheet between the second roller and a third roller, the third rollerhaving a relative position to the first roller and the second rollersuch that a convey reference surface of the sheet that is in contactwith the first roller and the second roller and a flat surface of thenip are disposed on substantially the same flat surface; and guiding thesheet using a guide member positioned between the nip and the firstroller and intersecting the convey reference surface.
 13. The method offeeding paper according to claim 12, wherein relative positions of afirst end portion of the guide member on the upstream side of the sheetin a conveying direction and a rotary shaft of the second roller arefixed, and relative positions of a second end portion of the guidemember on the downstream side of the sheet in the conveying directionand the rotary shaft of the second roller are not fixed.
 14. The methodof feeding paper according to claim 13, wherein the guide membercomprises an elastic body.
 15. The method of feeding paper according toclaim 13, wherein the guide member has a plate shape.
 16. The method offeeding paper according to claim 13, wherein the second end portion ofthe guide member has a straight line shape substantially parallel to therotary shaft of the second roller.
 17. The method of feeding paperaccording to claim 13, further comprising: that guiding movement of thesheet into the nip using a first surface of a support member, and thefirst end portion of the guide member is on an opposite side of theconvey reference surface sandwiching the first surface.
 18. A quietpaper feeder, comprising: a tray that supports a plurality of sheets; afirst roller that picks up a sheet from the tray; a second roller thatconveys the sheet picked up by the first roller; a third roller whichforms a nip that sandwiches the sheet between the second roller and thethird roller, the third roller having a relative position to the firstroller and the second roller set such that a convey reference surface ofthe sheet that is in contact with the first roller and the second rollerand a flat surface of the nip are disposed on substantially the sameflat surface; and a guide member between the nip and the first rollerand intersects the convey reference surface.
 19. The quiet paper feederaccording to claim 18, wherein relative positions of a first end portionof the guide member on the upstream side of the sheet in a conveyingdirection and a rotary shaft of the second roller are fixed, andrelative positions of a second end portion of the guide member on thedownstream side of the sheet in the conveying direction and the rotaryshaft of the second roller are not fixed.
 20. The quiet paper feederaccording to claim 19, wherein the guide member comprises an elasticbody and has a plate shape.